Charis Mutschler

Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Column CM160
The 2026 UK Open – Final Day

After the sixth round, only eight participants remained: three Englishmen, two Welshmen, one Northern Irishman, one Dutchman, and one Pole – Luke Littler, Rob Cross, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Gerwyn Price, Josh Rock, Danny Noppert, and Krzysztof Ratajski.

This reflects the participating …

Sunday, March 8, 2026
Column CM159
Day Two of the 2026 UK Open

Day two of the UK Open started a little later. Only two rounds were played – one in each of the two sessions. In the fifth round, only four boards were in use, and in the sixth, only the main and secondary …

Saturday, March 7, 2026
Column CM158
The first day of the 2026 UK Open

While there are numerous debutants on the UK Open stages every year, the field of participants also includes one player who has competed since the inaugural edition in 2003 and another who has been there every year since the second UK …

Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Column CM157
Women at the 2026 UK Open

The PDC UK Open has been held since 2003, and in fact two women competed in the very first edition of the tournament. Deta Hedman, who was playing in the PDC at the time, was one of them. The other – and this …

Sunday, January 4, 2026
Column CM156
PlayersRuminitions on the PDC World Championship – it’s history…

… and today the PDC Qualifying School kicks off a new darts year.

At 20 days, the PDC World Championship was a full four days longer than last year’s. It also had more participants and we saw even more matches …

Saturday, January 3, 2026
Column CM155
Players from Africa at the PDC World Championship)

This year saw the first African participant at the PDC World Championship who wasn’t from South Africa – Kenyan David Munyua, who advanced to the second round before losing to Kevin Doets. For Munyua, a veterinarian by profession, who was celebrated …

Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Column CM154
More Wasps (or… Days 3 and 4 of the PDC World Championship)

A debutant opened the third day – Welshman David Davies faced Mario Vandenbogaerde, who, however, couldn’t live up to his nickname “Super Mario.”

Though Davies was a World Championship debutant, he has experience as a member of …

Sunday, December 14, 2025
Column CM153
The Wasps Are Back Too!

In addition to the players the wasps were back for the first two days of the World Championship!

The first day of the PDC World Championship, featuring only one evening session, began with the first German participant, Arno Merk, one of eight German players …

Friday, December 12, 2025
Column CM152
They are Back!

Yes, indeed, last year they failed to qualify for the World Championship because they had dropped low in the rankings and lost their Tour Card at the end of 2024.

Neither of them could regain it in Qualifying School 2025.

This year, Mervyn King qualified via …

Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Column CM150
World Championships – Part 1

This year again, the WDF World Championships and the PDC World Championship are close to each on the calendar – the WDF World Championships ended on December 7th and the PDC World Championship will begin on December 11th. That leaves just three days to …

Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Column CM149
World Matchplay 2025 – Quarters, Semis, Final

From the quarterfinals on I was in Blackpool…

Quarterfinals

Until arriving in Blackpool, I followed the tournament on TV.  James Wade had looked really strong – but during the walk-on for the quarterfinals it seemed he was uncomfortable…

Gian van Veen won …

Sunday, July 27, 2025
Column CM148
World Matchplay 2025 – Debutants

Readers awaiting this column probably expected it would be about the World Matchplay quarterfinals.  Of course, there will be a column about the rest of the tournament, but I thought some variation would be welcome and decided to first write this little piece about …

Thursday, July 24, 2025
Column CM146
World Matchplay 2025 – Second Round

At the start of the second round, seven unseeded and nine seeded players were still in the tournament – and on the first of the two nights there were three matches between a seeded and an unseeded player and one match between two …

Thursday, July 24, 2025
Column CM146
World Matchplay 2025 – First Round

The first round of a major tournament often brings some upsets and surprise wins and it was no different in this year’s World Matchplay.

It started on the first night when not only reigning champion Luke Humphries but the 2023 champion, Nathan Apspinall, …

Monday, March 10, 2025
Column CM145
The UK Open 2025 – will a Luke be the winner?

The weather on the final day of the UK Open was as fine as on the days before. The wind was a little bit stronger and on the Bristol channel there was a lot of ship traffic. The …

Sunday, March 9, 2025
Column CM144
The UK Open 2025 – Day Two

On the second day of the UK Open, the sun shone in a bright blue sky with only a few small clouds. It was a little bit like summer holidays at the seaside und the Butlin’s masses all walked along the promenade. …

Monday, March 3, 2025
Column CM143
The UK Open 2025 – Greaves shines in Minehead

On the first day of the UK Open in Minehead, Beau Greaves once again wrote history. Never before had a woman managed to reach the fourth round in the UK Open – and she showed strong performances, which many of …

Friday, January 10, 2025
Column CM142
Steve Beaton

Birthday: April 5, 1964

Lives in: North Walsham, England

Born in: Coventry, England

Nickname: The Bronzed Adonis

Darts: 22-gram Winmau Steve Beaton

Walk-on Music: Stayin’ Alive (The Bee Gees)

Steve Beaton is another of the players who missed this PDC World Championship – a World Championship in …

Thursday, January 2, 2025
Column CM141
Simon Whitlock

Birthday: March 3, 1969
Lives in: Cessnock, Australia
Born in: Hornsby, Australia
Nickname: The Wizard
Darts: 22-gram Red Dragon Eagles
Walk-on Music: Down Under (Men At Work)

The popular Australian Simon Whitlock entered the spotlight in 2002 when he won the Australian Masters and the Oceanic Masters …

Sunday, December 29, 2024
Column CM140
Mervyn King

Birthday: March 15, 1966

Lives in: Bradwell, England

Born in: Ipswich, England

Nickname: The King

Darts: 22-gram Mervyn King

Walk-on Music: King of Kings (Motörhead)

Mervyn King started to play darts when he was 12 years old after his father bestowed him an old paper board with …

Monday, December 18, 2024
Column CM139
Happy Birthday, Vincent van der Voort!

Birthday: December 18, 1975
Lives in: Pumerend, Netherlands
Born in: Pumerend, Netherlands
Nickname: The Dutch Destroyer
Darts: 23-gram Winmau Signature
Walk-on Music: Give it Up (K.C. & The Sunshine Band)

Dutchman Vincent van der Voort started to play darts when he was ten …

Friday, December 12, 2024
Column CM137
Changers…

This year some of the well-known players will miss the PDC World Championship.

Most have in common (and it’s not uncommon) that at some time in their career they switched from one darts organisation to the other – normally they started in the BDO and later switched to …

Thursday, December 12, 2024
Column CM136
The Festive Season…

It is once again that time of the year – most people will think of Christmas while dart players and dart fans have other priorities. This is the month in which not only one but two World Championships – well, in fact, FIVE World Championships – …

Friday, July 26, 2024
Column CM135
The Women’s World Matchplay 2024

This year, the Women’s World Matchplay was held for the third time. Among the eight participants was only one debutant – Anastasia Dobromyslova. All other seven women took part for at least second time. The venue again was not as full as for the …

Thursday, July 25, 2024
Column CM134
World Matchplay 2024 – Semifinals and Finall

Semifinals

In the semifinals of the World Matchplay stood the three players ranked 1, 2 and 3 in the Order of Merit (and, accordingly, the three top seeds in tournament) and one non seeded player.

In the first semifinal the number …

Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Column CM133
World Matchplay 2024 – The Quarterfinals

The quarterfinals took place over two days as well.  On the first day, the players from the upper half played again and on the second day the players from the lower half stood on stage – and on both days just one non-seeded …

Tuesday, July 23, 2023
Column CM133
World Matchplay 2024 – The Second Round

In the second round the format was a little bit longer – perhaps this was not good for all the matches.

The first evening I watched fromt home.  On the second night I was in Blackpool.  It is always more thrilling when …

Thursday, July 19, 2023
Column CM132
World Matchplay 2024 – The First Round

In just a few days the first round of World Matchplay was already over – just a short while after all had started.

It was an interesting first round with good and often thrilling matches – although all debutants were knocked out …

Thursday, July 11, 2023
Column CM131
World Matchplay 2024 – The Debutants

Ricardo Pietreczko

Born: 20. October 1994
Lives in: Nürnberg/Erlangen, Germany
Darts: 23g DataDarts
Nickname: Pikachu
Walk-on-Music: Pokemon Theme (Jason Paige)

German Ricardo Pietreczko is the first of this year’s five debutants who will come on the stage of the Winter Gardens in Blackpool …

Monday, December 16, 2023
Column CM130
An inteview with Alex Spellman

Along with Stowe Buntz, American Alex Spellman dominated this year’s Championship Darts Circuit (CDC) and qualified by the rankings for the PDC World Championship 2023/24.  Spellman has competed for about ten years but only first appeared internationally when in 2022 he won his first …

Monday, December 11, 2023
Column CM129
An inteview with South Africa’s Simon Adams

This year, Simon Adams was the South African participant in the PDC World Championship (2023/24). Internationally he not well known even though he has played darts for more than 40 years and has been quite successful in South Africa. Adams sees himself …

Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Column CM128
The Grand Slam’s about to begin!

Jim, you are some kind of old hand in the US sport of darts – what has kept you interested in the sport for such a long time?

Yes, been playing a long time. What keeps me playing is the competition, camraderie and …

Thursday, November 9, 2023
Column CM127
The Grand Slam’s about to begin!

It is November.  The leaves have started to fall, and the weather is strange.  Rain, wind, sunshine – and temperatures that don’t seem to be able to decide between summer and winter.

Dart players and fans from all over the world will head …

Sunday, July 22, 2023
Column CM126
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the Players from Great Britain

When one looks at the World Matchplay winner’s list the name Phil Taylor immediately catches the eye – it appears so often. Taylor won the event sixteen times, as often as he won the World Championship. It is …

Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Column CM125
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the Continental Europeans

Following the first part of the World Matchplay history which dealt with the participants from North America, today’s installment looks at the Continental European players and, well, the players from Australia.

Even before Roland Scholten a Dutch player appeared among …

Friday, July 14, 2023
Column CM124
Thirty Years of World Matchplay – the North Americans

Second only to the PDC World Championship, the PDC World Matchplay is the PDC tournament with the longest history.  This year, it will take place for the 30th time.  But the World Matchplay differs from other PDC events, not only …

Wednesday, March 16, 2023
Column CM123
UK Open – Third Day

After the quarterfinals all remaining participants were known and much of the suspense had somehow dissipated on finals day.  It seemed it would only be a question of against whom Michael van Gerwen would play in the final, which he would win anyhow.  But …

Wednesday, March 16, 2023
Column CM122
UK Open – Second Day

Has it happened to you?  Have you ever been unable, at first, to recognize a well-known darts player when you saw them in their street wear or in jump suit?  That is what happened to me when in my accommodation on the morning of …

Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Column CM121
UK Open – First Day

This year I once again travelled to the UK Open – when you use public transport, as I do, it becomes a really time consuming affair.  But when you take an early flight from Germany you will make it in one day.

In Minehead …

Friday, February 10, 2023
Column CM120
30 years of PDC World Championships – the Dutchmen (Part 4)

In the last article and as we drew closer to the present, the number of Dutch participants in the PDC World Championship continued to rise.

In the 2026 World Championship three Dutch players were in the field of …

Friday, December 23, 2022
Column CM119
30 years of PDC World Championships – the Dutchmen (Part 3)

In 2004, two Dutch players again stood at the oche during the PDC World Championship.  Roland Scholten was joined by left hander Jan van der Rassel – who was born in 1965 and known by the nicknames “The …

Friday, December 23, 2022
Column CM1187
30 years of PDC World Championships – the Dutchmen (Part 2)

In 2000, Roland Scholten – born in 1965 in The Hague – appeared as the first Dutchman in the PDC and he remained for many years.  He had played for some time in the BDO as an amateur …

Tuesday, December 20, 2022
Column CM117
30 years of PDC World Championships – also a 30th “anniversary” for Barney!

This year the the PDC celebrates it 30th World Championship anniversary.

Raymond van Barneveld, as well, celebrates his 30th anniversity – for the the thirtieth time he takes part in a World Championship.  It is per …

Wednesday, November 16, 2022
Column CM116
Out of Darkness Cometh Light…

I am sure everybody reading this immediately will realize that Global Darts this year returned to Wolverhampton as this is the official motto of the town, not a religious one by the way – it has nothing to do with the Bible at all. …

Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Column CM115
It is November and time for the Grand Slam!

After a really astonishing and interesting European Championship with Ross Smith as the surprise winner (and the no longer surprisingly losing finalist, Michael Smith)  it is time for the next big PDC TV event – the Grand Slam of Darts …

Friday, September 30, 2022
Column CM114
“Double In” in Leicester

“Double In” in Dublin was for many years the motto when October drew near and the City West Hotel just outside the city offered accomodation for players, officials and fans as well as being the host venue for the PDC World Grand Prix – a …

Sunday, July 24, 2022
Column CM113
The Women’s World Matchplay

While the men’s event get’s closer to the end the women’s event is about to begin.

Only two men are still in the tournament – Gerwen Price and Michael van Gerwen.  Tonight, we will know who is the 2022 World Matchplay champion.  But first, we’ll …

Friday, July 15, 2022
Column CM112
World Matchplay 2022 – The Favourites

Well, it’s summer, isn’t it?  Summer means high temperatures, sunshine, the sea and beach, seagulls, fish and chips, the Blackpool Tower and – at least for some people – THE WORLD MATCHPLAY. 

I started with the easier part of a tournament preview – …

Thursday, July 14, 2022
Column CM111
World Matchplay 2022 – The Debutants

This year we will see at the World Matchplay four debutants. Three of them are already experienced players even though none of them so far could celebrate a major tournament win. One of the debutants – with 37 years of age the oldest …

Friday, March 4, 2022
Column CM110
Snowdrops and crocuses – the UK Open

It is the beginning of March, snowdrops and crocuses are in full bloom, the sun is shining (from time to time) and the birds are singing – it is obvious: not only is spring coming, so is the UK Open!

Despite the …

Monday, January 3, 2022
Column CM109
Meet the players – Wales

In Wales – which, of course, is part of the United Kingdom – some special Christmas and New Year’s traditions (the season ends on January 6th) can be found while others are slowly falling into oblivion.

In Wales one can find a colorful Christmas …

Friday, December 31, 2021
Column CM108
Meet the players – Wales

For the PDC World Championship 2021/22 five players from Wales qualified: Jim Williams, Lewy Williams, Nick Kenny, Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton. Price is the reigning champion, Clayton the most successful player throughout 2021. The two are connected by friednship and rivalry on stage. …

Friday, December 24, 2021
Column CM107
It’s that time of the year – Christmas in Greece!

The PDC World Championship is always played during the Christmas season. People from all over the world travel to London and visit Alexandra Palace.  Some of them will stand on stage, many will go into the city and enjoy …

Friday, December 24, 2021
Column CM106
It’s that time of the year – Christmas in the Philippines!

Lourence Ilagan lost his match against Raymond van Barneveld at Alexandra Palace in London and by now is probably back home enjoying Christmastime in the Philippines.

But in the predominantly christian Philippines, the Christmas season began some months …

Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Column CM105
The World Championship… and the Philippines

Not long ago, one often heard there were a lot of good darts players in the Philippines and that it was only a matter of time before we would see the first Philippine winner in an international competition. So far, it hasn’t happened …

Thursday, December 16, 2021
Column CM104
Interview with John Michael

John Michael has been a player for decades.  So far, he is the first player from Greece to establish a reputation.  He is the first, and so far only, Greek with a PDC Tour Card.  Before the PDC World Championship 2021/22 (his fourth PDC World …

Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Column CM103
As soon as…

Tomorrow, the PDC World Championship will begin!  Another year with a lot of darting highlights, in defiance of Corona, lies behind us.

It is not easy for me to decide which darting achievments stood out most but at the first view the year for me was …

Friday, October 1, 2021
Column CM102
As soon as…

…or even just before the leaves start to fall, the PDC tournament calendar starts to bristle, and we can see tournament after tournament.  The Hungarian Darts Trophy, PDC World Cup, Nordic Darts Masters, Gibraltar Darts Trophy, Women’s Series – all that reeled off in front of …

Wednesday, September 8, 2021
Column CM101
It’s World Cup Time!

The time has come – the PDC World Cup is GAME ON!

While last year the tournament had to be played due to the Corona pandemic behind the closed doors of the Salzburg Arena in Salzburg, the World Cup this year returns to Germany and …

Friday, July 16, 2021
Column CM100
World Matchplay 2021 – The Debutants

As a darts fan, one almost couldn’t wait for the World Matchplay after this year’s thrilling Premier League, which in the end produced the surprise winner Jonny Clayton.  Clayton was the last player nominated – only after his win of the Masters.  Only …

Wednesday, May 5, 2021
Column CM99
The second half of the Premier League begins!

The second half of the Premier League begins today and – in what is certain to be a joy for the players and fans – on the last four League days and the play-offs a thousand fans per night will be …

Sunday, April 4, 2021
Column CM98
Premier League – who will win?

For the second year in a row, we will not see a “normal” Premier League.  Due to the continuing pandemic the Premier League will again be played without a crowd this year – and to be sure this was one of the reasons …

Saturday, January 2, 2021
Column CM97
The Final of the 2003 PDC World Championship

The final of the 2003 PDC World Championship counts – along with the inaugural world championship final and the 2008 women’s final – among the best darts matches in the history of the sport and, as in the Women’s final it …

Monday, December 21, 2020
Column CM96
The Inaugural BDO World Championship Final

The final is not always the best match of a tournament – but there have been some World Championship finals which must rank among the best matches in the history of darts. Among them, the inaugural BDO World Championship (which took place in …

Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Column CM95
Back to the 2021 PDC World Championship 

As a follow-up to the article about the 2008 BDO Women’s World Championship showdown between Trina Gulliver and Anastasia Dobromyslova final, here is a close look at the two female players in this year’s PDC World Championship – Lisa Ashton and Deta …

Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Column CM94
One of the best Women’s World Championship Finals: Trina Gulliver vs. Anastasia Dobromyslova

The final is not always the best match of a tournament but there were some World Championship finals which surely rate among the best matches in the history of darts.

I picked three and checked them …

Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Column CM93
The European Championship

I will not predict anything this time – not after all those wrong predictions last time! But I have looked at the line up for the European Championship which really can take place despite all the problems the Corona crisis presents. There will even be a …

Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Column CM92
World Grand Prix Debutants

This year, in the World Grand Prix – which due to the Corona pandemic will not be played as usual in the City West hotel in Dublin but rather behind closed doors in the Ricoh Arena in Coventry – six debutants will take part who …

Saturday, July 25, 2020
Column CM90
Superbly Amplified (or World Matchplay – Round #2)

Am I the only one who is curious why the arena in Milton Keynes is called “Marshall Arena”?

Surely others have wondered too but no doubt most don’t care and are just happy that live darts is finally back.  Still, perhaps …

Friday, July 24, 2020
Column CM89
Gary Anderson is to blame!

My idea was to abstain from accompanying this year’s World Matchplay with columns since I couldn’t watch it live on the spot.  And I’ve never ever been in Milton Keynes either….

But then Gary Anderson came along and was asked in two different interviews …

Wednesday, July 18, 2020
Column CM88
After the Summer Series and before (almost) World Matchplay…

Thanks to the PDC Summer Series we were finally able to watch live darts again! But for the players and their managers and the few officials the situation during the five days was far from normal…

All had to arrive …

Tuesday, March 25, 2020
Column CM86
UK Open Day 3 – And Now for Something Completely Different…

…namely about another famous person born in Weston who had nothing at all to with darts – John Cleese, one of the founders of Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

In darts language there exists the phrase “Not old” …

Tuesday, March 25, 2020
Column CM85
UK Open Day 2 – Ritchie Blackmore

One of the best-known people from Weston-super-Mare is Ritchie Blackmore, the lead guitarist from Deep Purple (although he only lived for his first two years in Weston). His family then moved to Heston, a suburb of London. When Blackmore was eleven, he …

Tuesday, March 25, 2020
Column CM84
UK Open Day 1 – Weston-super-Mare

When I walked back after the first day of the UK Open in Minehead from Butlins to my Bed and Breakfast the lights twinkled from the other side of the bay. There sits Weston super- Mare.

Weston-super-Mare is today a town far bigger …

Tuesday, December 24, 2019
Column CM83
Charis interviews Canada’s Matt Campbell

You know what they say about mice, men and their best-laid plans – they often go awry. Such (obviously) was the case with the following interview, which was intended to be shared before the start of the world championships. Campbell fell 3-1 in the …

Thursday, December 19, 2019
Column CM82
2020 World Championship – “I wish you a Merry Christmas”

Fortunately, one of the two German players survived his first-round match last night, but it was not the player most expected. Gabriel Clemens lost 2-3 to Benito van de Pas but Nico Kurz advanced by defeating James Wilson 3-1.…

Wednesday, December 18, 2019
Column CM81
2020 World Championship – “O Tannenbaum”

It was a very long and very exciting day of darts yesterday!

Of course, Fallon Sherrock’s win over Ted Evetts was the spectacular highlight – she is now the first woman to ever win a match in a PDC World Championship. And she …

Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Column CM80
2020 World Championship – “Bog sie Rodzi”

Yesterday didn’t go well for the Irish players. Except for William O’Connor all lost their matches – though Keane Barry impressed despite his defeat by Vincent van der Voort. Callan Rydz, who defeated Steve Lennon, is yet another of those strong upcoming …

Monday, December 16, 2019
Column CM79
2020 World Championship – “Fairy-tale of New York”

Well, yesterday was, with a few exceptions, not really a high-class affair. There were only a few averages over 90 and only one over 100 – and that was recorded by a losing player. There were quite a few very one-sided …

Sunday, December 15, 2019
Column CM78
2020 World Championship – “Good King Wenceslas”

As Sunday is another very international day of darts but since both seeded players are from England my Christmas song of the day is “Good King Wenceslas.”

I always wondered how a King Wenceslas made it into an English Christmas song (by …

Saturday, December 14, 2019
Column CM77
2020 World Championship – “White Christmas”

At this time of year in London one hears Christmas music everywhere. And what one hears is as international and colourful as the world championship. So, I have decided to feature a holiday song for each day I am in London for the …

Friday, December 13, 2019
Column CM76
The World Championship begins (with great walk-on songs)!

Every tournament – and that will not be different tonight – needs walk-on songs. Many of the songs I’ve heard after so many tournaments are now stored somewhere in my brain.

Recently, when I listened once again to the SWR radio …

Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Column CM75
Interview with Marko Puls

Marko Puls has played darts since 1991. At first he only played soft darts but soon was celebrating success in steel-dart in DDV and WDF events. Three times he took part without success in the PDC Qualifiying School, a few times he qualified by the …

Monday, December 9, 2019
Column CM74
Interview with Gabriel Clemens

Gabriel Clemens has competed on the BDC circuit since 2017 but has played in GDC events since 2007. He now takes part in PDC events in Europe. In 2009, he qualified for the first time for the World Masters. He increase his activity in 2016, …

Monday, November 25, 2019
Column CM73
“Black by Day and Red by Night” (Part #3)

Still today, on a hill above Dudley you can find the ruins of Dudley Castle – the home of the Barons of Dudley. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1750. In the former castle park, you can find Dudley …

Sunday, November 24, 2019
Column CM72
“Black by Day and Red by Night” (Part #2)

One of the people from the Black Country who came to some fame was metallurgist Dudd Dudley. Dudley was an illegitimate son of the Baron of Dudley and was interested from a very early age in the processing of iron.…

Friday, November 22, 2019
Column CM71
“Black by Day and Red by Night” (Part #1)

Wolverhampton is part of a region in the West of Birmingham which is known in England as “Black Country.” It is not quite clear where the name comes from but it dates to around 1840. It might be it has …

Thursday, November 21, 2019
Column CM70
Grand Slam – Day II

Lisa Ashton and Mikuru Suzuki are not the first women to take part in the Grand Slam. Before them, Anastasia Dobromyslova, Francis Hoenselaar, Stacy Bromberg and Tricia Wright stood on the stage in Wolverhampton. Not at the same stage of course as the Civic …

Thursday, November 21, 2019
Column CM69
I am back!  (Grand Slam #1)

Really, I am back at Wolverhampton.

This year I was not sure it would happen. All this Brexit drama had complicated my decision to attend. A no-deal Brexit on October 31 (which Boris Johnson intended) may have created a chaotic England during …

Thursday, August 1, 2019
Column CM67
“Let Us Entertain You”

Jesters and clowns – or as one would put it today, comedians and entertainers – have always been important during Blackpool’s summer season. Everybody who is or was anybody performed over the years in the Winter Gardens, the Grand Theatre or other establishments in Blackpool. …

Thursday, August 1, 2019
Column CM66
At the Beach

On the fourth day of the tournament the sun was shining from a blue sky and it was very warm…

As did a lot of tourists, I walked to the beach which is to be sure one of Blackpool’s main attractions from the beginning. Some say …

Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Column CM65
Along the Piers

Compared to Sunday, Monday was a rather relaxed day and I did what many people do in Blackpool – I walked along the promenade looking at the beach and the piers.

The English word “pier” doesn’t mean the same as the German word – which is …

Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Column CM64
Darting entertainment

On the second day of the World Matchplay I had no time to have another look at the entertainment facilities of a typical British seaside resort. On a day with two darts sessions my only contact with fresh air would be on the way to and the …

Monday, July 29, 2019
Column CM63
Not beach weather…

The first day of the World Matchplay started mostly wet – the day before it had rained cats and dogs.

When I looked out of the window during breakfast, I saw mainly stretched umbrellas. So I was appropriately equipped when I ventured to go outside. But …

Monday, July 22, 2019
Column CM62
World Matchplay 2019 – Debutantes Part 2

Glen Durrant

Age: 48
Nickname: Duzza
Best TV run: 2017 Grand Slam of Darts – quarter-final, three times BDO World Champion
Betfred tournament odds: 40/1
First round opponent: Adrian Lewis

To call Durrant a debutante – well, I feel rather reluctant about …

Monday, July 22, 2019
Column CM61
World Matchplay 2019 – Debutantes Part 1

This year seven debutantes will stand for the first time at the World Matchplay oche, one more than last year. One could rate it as another sign of the changing of the guard though two of the debutantes are already older than …

Saturday, June 8, 2019
Column CM60
Interview with Chuck Puleo

46-year-old Cuck Puleo was more or less unknown when he qualified in 2018 after three wins on the CDC circuit as the highest ranked American player for the PDC World Championship 2019. With Dimitri van den Bergh he was drawn against a tough opponent and …

Monday, March 25, 2019
Column CM59
UK Open – Day 3

The third day of the UK Open dawned – it was rather grey outside, not really dry and it stormed. Not nice for hiking but when Coleridge was on his way in March 1798, he had to take a break in an inn in …

Monday, March 25, 2019
Column CM58
UK Open – Day 2

Rather astonishingly, the second day of the UK Open started quite nice and dry again – an ideal day to walk a few miles on the Coleridge Way. The next destination on route is the small town of Porlock. Again you can find an …

Monday, March 18, 2019
Column CM57
UK Open – Day 1

The weather was not really an issue this year though in the evening of the day before the UK Open started we had quite a strong wind in Minehead and my window rattled loudly. But with this exception it is almost spring here, not …

Wednesday, January 30, 2019
Column CM56
“Only a publicity stunt…”

…said Linda Duffy when she heard of the PDC’s plan to offer two places for women in the World Championship. Furthermore, she stated her belief that it is unfair when women must play against men. Of course, she has an explanation for this disconcerting opinion …

Monday, December 24, 2018
Column CM55
Anastasia Dobromsylova – until now, the only woman to qualify by pub qualifier for the PDC World Championship

Yes, that happened once (it was not so long ago). The woman who managed this was Anastasia Dobromyslova and she was again one of the players who stood on the stage …

Wednesday, December 19, 2018
Column CM54
WC day four, and the first (and so far, only) German women on the PDC circuit

Yes, really, it is true, there were German ladies who played a few PDC Europe Events. There were two: Sabrina Spörle and Stefanie Lück.

Sabrina Spörle was more a soft darts player and …

Tuesday, December 18, 2018
Column CM54
PDC World Championships – day three and the (probably) only PDC Women’s World Champion

On the third day of the World Championship – during which the top favourite, Michael van Gerwen would appear for the first time on the Alexandra Palace stage – we begin by reflecting on another …

Monday, December 16, 2018
Column CM52
The PDC and Ladies Darts

This year, the PDC expanded the World Championship field of participants to 96 and two of the First Round places were on offer in two ladies qualifiers – one for ladies from the UK and one for ladies from the rest of the world. Qualifying …

Monday, December 9, 2018
Column CM51
An interview with Canada’s Jim Long

Jim – when did you start to play darts?

I started playing darts when I was 19 years old.

How did you get into contact with the sport?

I went to my local tavern one night to play pool and everyone was playing …

Monday, November 26, 2018
Column CM50
The Grand Slam of Darts – a sad story with wide-ranging consequences

One of the mechanics, Louis Coatalen, worked with at Sunbeam was Tim Barrett. Barrett was born and grew up in Wolverhampton. During his apprentice training he worked among others from Guy Motors which produced motors for airplanes …

Sunday, November 25, 2018
Column CM49
The Grand Slam of Darts – close contests

Not only was it on the third day of the Grand Slam that we saw close contests.

Those happen often enough in car racing as well. Years ago, there existed in Wolverhampton a manufacturer who produced racing cars – Sunbeam. Sunbeam …

Saturday, November 24, 2018
Column CM48
The Grand Slam of Darts – a lot more darts…

On the second day of the tournament I again used the shuttle to the venue. The pick-up stop had changed due to Remembrance Day. The shuttle needs around twenty minutes to get from Wolverhampton to Aldersley which is a …

Friday, November 23, 2018
Column CM47
The Grand Slam of Darts – a new venue

This year the Grand Slam was again played in Wolverhampton but not, as in former years, in the Civic Hall (which is being renovated) but in Aldersleigh Leisure Village. This “village” is not a small town but a big sporting …

Wednesday, November 7, 2018
Column CM46
The Grand Slam of Darts – Preview

I don’t do predictions any longer…

This year, I have been off the mark far too often.

What the hell happened to the dartsplayers? It was rather easy in the past. For years, one could predict Phil Taylor would be the winner …

Monday, September 21, 2018
Column CM45
The Season Begins!

As in football the summer break is over – though there is no real summer break in darts any longer. Since the World Matchplay we could follow three World Series tournaments and three European Tour events by the official PDC stream (which was not always pure …

Monday, August 6, 2018
Column CM44
World Matchplay – the third pier

Blackpool is a seaside resort which offers not one or two but three piers, which is quite unusual. The oldest of the piers is the North Pier, which was built in the 1860s. At first it was not planned as a real pier …

Monday, August 6, 2018
Column CM43
World Matchplay – dancing along…

As we all know, the World Matchplay takes place in the Empress Ballroom of the Winter Gardens in Blackpool – though except for a few darts players no one during the event really dances here. But in fact, for much longer than the World …

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Column CM42
World Matchplay 2018 – Day 2 (still no 100+ averages)

The second day of the World Matchplay offered the same weather as the first one. The sky was grey and a cold wind blew in from the sea. It was not a day for the beach but perhaps hopeful …

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Column CM41
World Matchplay 2018 – Day 1 (de Zwaan sends van Gerwen packing!)

“Everybody is here… to have a good time.”

The “here” means Blackpool and it is one of the reasons why the PDC decided in 1994 to organise a darts tournament during the summer season in Blackpool.

The …

Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Column CM40
World Matchplay 2018 – Preview, Part 2 – The Favorites

For the betting companies – and probably most darts fans – Michael van Gerwen is the favorite to win the World Matchplay followed by Gary Anderson, Rob Cross and Peter Wright.

Outsider possibilities include Michael Smith, Daryl Gurney, Mensur …

Monday, July 16, 2018
Column CM39
World Matchplay 2018 – Preview, Part 1 – The Debutants

This year, six debutants qualified for Blackpool and will stand for the first time on the stage at the Winter Gardens. Two of them are Dutch, one is from England, one from Ireland, one from Wales and one from …

Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Column CM38
Did we really miss him?

It is only a short time now until the start of the prestigious World Matchplay in Blackpool and the question that suddenly popped into my head is, “Did we miss him?” Of course I am talking about the retired Phil Taylor!

When you follow …

Friday, June 29, 2018
Column CM37
An interview with Mark McGeeney

Mark – you entered the BDO World Championship this year as the BDO number 1. Was it more a motivation or more a burden for you? 

I didn’t feel a difference. Playing at the World Championships is pressure enough.

You took part for the …

Monday, April 23, 2018
Column CM36
Interview with Rene Eidams

Rene, you refer to yourself as a “professional darts player.” Does that mean you can live from playing darts?

No, ‘till now it doesn’t really work. That’s why I as a sideline have got darts shop under www.cubedarts.de.

What is or was your line …

Saturday, March 24, 2018
Column CM35
Adventure Weekend in Minehead

The new darting year started with the great final of the PDC World Championship which Rob Cross was able to win and continued with the BDO World Championship which was not as high class as the PDC counterpart but nevertheless quite entertaining. After that, we …

Tuesday, January 8, 2018
Column CM34
Change of Power

Well, what a tournament! And what an outcome!

I can’t imagine anybody predicted this. I surely didn’t.

Like many other dart fans around the world I was almost convinced we would see another triumph of the green Dutchman. There were a few other options I had …

Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Column CM33
A little more about the darts scene in Russia (an interview with Igor Dzasokhov)

Igor Dzasokhov is the chairman of the Euroasian Darts Cooperation (EADC) which among other tournaments organises in its member countries’ qualifiers for the PDC World Championship in London. This year – as two years ago …

Wednesday, December 20, 2017
Column CM32
Interview with Alexandr Oreshkin

Russian darts player Aleksandr Oreshkin, born 1961, for the first time stood on the stage of the Alexandra Palace in 2016. He had qualified by the Russian World Championship qualifier. His strange throwing action caused a stir and seemed to distract his opponents. He won …

Thursday, November 30, 2017
Column CM31
Grand Slam – Catherine Eddowes (or Behind Lock and Bars 4) 

Until today, I couldn’t find a blue plaque for Catherine Eddowes in Wolverhampton. But of course you really can’t call her an “important” person. Her “fame” results from quite gruesome circumstances: Eddowes was the fourth victim of Jack …

Wednesday, November 29, 2017
Column CM30
Grand Slam – Suffragettes (or Behind Lock and Bars 3) 

When I walk from my hotel into town I always pass a house with a blue plaque. The plaques remember important persons of the town – and most of the names I’ve never heard before. Out of curiosity I …

Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Column CM29
Grand Slam – Behind Lock and Bars 2 

The locksmiths’ history of Wolverhampton was of course not yet over – it just reached the peak. By 1770 there were 134 locksmiths living in Wolverhampton. The number dropped to 110 a few years later (still an astonishing figure) and among …

Monday, November 27, 2017
Column CM28
Grand Slam – Behind Lock and Bars 

First, I have to disappoint all those who think in this article about the first day of the Grand Slam I intend to reveal stories about dart players who have been locked up in jail. Although some players might have been in …

Friday, October 27, 2017
Column CM27
The 2017 European Championship

I almost don’t dare to…

…predict tournament outcomes any more.

The last several big tournaments didn’t go at all according to my prognostications.

First, we had the Champions League of Darts. Well, I predicted – and probably many other people did as well – Michael …

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Column CM27
An Interview with Jeff Smith

Q – Jeff, you not only play BDO/WDF tournaments but you took part in some PDC events and even won a PDC Tour Card in 2011 – why didn’t you take part in the Pro Tour after that?

A – I took part back …

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Column CM26
Winmau World Masters – Finals Day

When you explore Bridlington it’s certain to your attention that the name St. John can be found quite often. This St. John is John of Bridlington, who for many years was the prior of the Augustine Priory in Bridlington. Not much is still …

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Column CM25
Winmau World Masters – Day 2

Since the second day of the Winmau World Masters didn’t start until 2:00 pm I used the time (and the sunshine) to take a look around…

Bridlington still today has an active harbour and is well known for its catch of shell fish. …

Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Column CM24
Winmau World Masters – Day 1

Of all the tournaments I visit the Winmau World Masters is usually the most exhausting…

Nowhere else are so many players around, nowhere else are several tournaments played at the same time, and nowhere else do the participants come from so many different …

Thursday, August 3, 2017
Column CM23
Taylors Wake

Well, I can’t deny I am still influenced by our holiday in Ireland. Otherwise what happened during this year’s World Matchplay never would have reminded me of Finnegans Wake – not only the famous Irish ballad but also James Joyce’s difficult to understand last work, in which …

Thursday, July 19, 2017
Column CM22
World Matchplay – the Favourites

When you look at the list of favourites at the betting companies to win of the World Matchplay this year it looks like this:

Michael van Gerwen.

Gary Anderson.

Peter Wright.

Phil Taylor.

Dave Chisnall.

Yes, Dave Chisnall is on place five of the …

Thursday, July 19, 2017
Column CM21
World Matchplay – the Debutants 

This year with Steve West, Cristo Reyes, Rob Cross, James Wilson and Christian Kist five players will make their debut at Blackpool. West, Kist and Wilson all take the stage at Winter Gardens on the first evening of the tournament against Michael Smith, Gary …

Saturday, June 17, 2017
Column CM20
The darts I missed…  

Yes, I’ve been on holiday! And we really had a great holiday! But it might be the timing was not exactly right as I missed some tournaments…

You might argue that today, in times of the Internet, that shouldn’t be a problem because a lot …

Wednesday, May 3, 2017
Column CM19
Interview with Brazil’s Diogo Portela  

Congratulations on being invited to the PDC World Cup to represent your country! Have you ever take part in this kind of tournament?

Thank you very much! I’ve played the WDF World Cup, America’s Cup and Caribbean Cup representing my country but nothing like …

Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Column CM18
The 2017 UK Open

When I left home to travel to the UK Open I was still reeling from the news of Stacy Bromberg’s death. I suppose I am what Dartoid calls a “collected” friend, although I didn’t see Stacy often.

I first learned about her at the SEWA …

Thursday, February 2, 2017
Column CM17
Taking a break…

I needed a break after the PDC World Championship, a not uncommon need for all people who are in some way involved a rather exhausting affair. I also needed to pause and reflect on whether I thought it was a good event or not. Well, I …

Monday, December 26, 2016
Column CM16
“A Morning Song”

During my visit to St. Martin’s in the Field the choir sang an Advent hymn by Eleanor Farjeon, an English writer who mainly wrote children’s books. Eleanor’s father had been an author and two of her brothers were writers as well while her older brother was …

Monday, December 26, 2016
Column CM15
Christmas Pudding… and Darts

I doubt most readers will see any connection between Christmas Pudding and darts. But one really can find one – when you are desperate to do so. I’ll prove it!!!

At this time of the year, Christmas Pudding is offered everywhere in the UK, something …

Monday, December 26, 2016
Column CM14
A birthday!

Drowned in all the darts of the last few days was the fact that Dutch darts player Vincent van der Voort celebrated his birthday on December 18th. Van der Voort is among the participants in the World Championship but he’ll not be on stage until the 23rd …

Sunday, December 25, 2016
Column CM13
Darts and more Darts… or Platt and Platt

The fourth day of the World Championship was dull day. Muswell Hill was already very busy – it looked like the people, so close to Christmas, are as hectic as they are in Germany. The press room on the other hand …

Sunday, December 25, 2016
Column CM12
Darts… and Darts

It was foggy when I ascended the steps to Alexandra Palace on my first “long” day of darts. The venue again looked almost fully booked but the press room was quite empty. That had been different during my previous visits, especially on days when players like …

Saturday, December 24, 2016
Column CM11
Aeronautics and Darts

For all who think those topics are not related in any way – you should perhaps read from time to time the Uniboffin blogs on the Unicorn site. Air drag, trajectory and the improvement of flight characteristics are important when producing darts as well. And aeronautics …

Friday, December 24, 2016
Column CM10
At St. Martin in the Fields and Alexandra Palace 

As the World Championship would not begin before the evening I took the bus and underground into the City of London. The city is always crowded and even more so such a short time before Christmas. So I concentrated on …

Friday, December 2, 2016
Column CM9
An interview with Linda Duffy

Linda Batten-Duffy, the #1 in woman’s darts from 1982-1987, started to play darts in her local pub when she was 15. At the time, women had few options to play darts in England – even county ladies darts didn’t exist before 1975. Nevertheless, Linda …

Thursday, September 15, 2016
Column CM8
The Silly Season?

Well, not exactly a “silly season”… not anymore.

Until some years ago, the period after the World Matchplay in Blackpool used to be the beginning of the “silly season” in darts. Players went on holiday, probably to the Continent to lie on the beaches, recover from …

Tuesday, August 3, 2016
Column CM7
“Brexit” Darts

This year, I began my trip to Blackpool feeling slightly uneasy. Only a few days before, the UK had voted to leave the EU and one could read everywhere about bursts of hatred against foreigners. Hatred is an attitude that perplexes me. I just can’t understand …

Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Column CM65
Darts in June – Upsets, Highlights and Another Milestone Birthday 

June’s darting highlight certainly was the PDC World Cup. It’s a darts tournament I like – different format, different faces and even sometimes a few upsets! And this year it even included a premature birthday present…

This year’s …

Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Column CM5
“Wolfie” celebrates his 60th birthday! 

Martin “Wolfie” Adams will celebrate his 60th birthday on June 4th. I can imagine he’ll celebrate it in style while taking part in a tournament… and to be sure the wolves will be howling!

Adams’ 36-year long (more or less) darting career started by …

Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Column CM4
Charis interviews Martin “Wolfie” Adams 

Martin – of course, people wonder why after years of refusal you took part in the Grand Slam last year?

Well, that’s nothing mysterious. The BDO talked to me and advised me to take part.

How did you like it?

I really enjoyed …

Monday, April 11, 2016
Column CM3
The fat’s in the fire…  

When I recently watched the Michael van Gerwen /Phil Taylor match during Premier League, which ended in a draw, I couldn’t help feeling something like Jetzt haben wir den Salat, which means in English “The fat’s in the fire”…

Whatever you might …

Monday, March 14, 2016
Column CM2
The UK Open – is this really a column?

Although I am still not quite sure what a column really is I agreed to write one and my new boss, Dartoid, made me visit the UK Open as the tournament offered a chance for a journalistic attempt. And …

Friday, February 19, 2016
Column CM1
An interview with Larry Butler

Born in 1957, Larry Butler is 58 years of age – three years older than Phil Taylor. But he is still one of the most successful American dart players, possibly the most successful.

Beside countless North American tournament wins, both steel-tip and soft-tip, he …